Recap: Supernatural – Episode 7.21, Reading is Fundamental

Official Description: CASTIEL AWAKENS FROM HIS COMATOSE STATE – Meg (guest star Rachel Miner) calls Dean (Jensen Ackles) and Sam (Jared Padalecki) and tells them Castiel (guest star Misha Collins) is awake and talking. Meanwhile, a teenager named Kevin (guest star Osric Chau) gets hit by a bolt of lightening and is turned into a reluctant prophet. Sam and Dean believe Kevin holds the key to defeating the Leviathans but must fight off two Archangels who want him for their own purposes. The episode was written and directed by Ben Edlund.

The Ramble

Whew-boy. So, remember back in S1 when we had what ended up feeling like a 3-part season finale culminating in the awesomeness that was “Devil’s Trap”? Yeah…that’s kinda what I’m thinking about with this one.

Last season, with Sam being soulless for such a big part of the season, I felt like they tried to cram a whole lot of story into the very last episode and even with the cliffie, I was left feeling a bit…empty. I have really enjoyed this season – especially in comparison to last season—and I really don’t want that same feeling of plot lines slipping through the show’s grip.

I have hopes for the way this all plays out because there are two episodes left and since they got an extra episode this season, there’s the opportunity to make it flow more…organically, if you will. And then flow right on into S8. *grins* This episode felt, to me, like they were putting all the chess pieces on the board, getting the players in order, and moving the first pawn. It gave us enough information to nod along, recognizing the tune they were playing, but not yet able to sing along with the lyrics.

And it reminded me of a few things I hadn’t bothered to think about – like the fact that Castiel’s actions affected a whole lot more than just the Winchesters…and that Heaven was now minus a few thousand angels, thanks to his brief stint as the New God. Honestly haven’t given the angels as a whole much thought this season, but now I’m thinking. I’m thinking a lot and figure I may as well roll demons into that thought mix while I’m at it.

Like how Dick dismissed Crowley and his basket of muffins from his limo like so much trash…and how that would not be sitting well with Crowley…and how he put the ‘no touch’ order on the boys…. I mean, that’s all going to have to lead somewhere with the Levi showdown, right? Especially now that we know Meg’s current cause. And there are some new reveals that came our way this episode that have me hoping for certain things I know I shouldn’t hope for because that will just get me disappointed.

But I can’t help it! I am forever hopeful. It’s a weakness.

Okay, with that bit of random processing out of the way, let’s get to it. As per usual, this is written after only one viewing, so I’m sure there’ll be stuff I’ve missed – but that’s where you guys come in. Right? *smiles* The THEN was basically catching us up on why Cas was in the mental hospital, why Meg was there with him, and how the boys got Dick’s package.

*frowns* That last part sounded a lot better in my head.

NOW we have a teenager named Kevin Tran in Neighbor, MI, practicing his cello (I love the sound of that instrument…any string instrument, really) in his room. On his wall are multiple framed accolades and awards. His computer is set with a reminder and strict study schedule and beeps at him to stop practicing at the appointed time.

Elsewhere – on the South side of Chicago, to be exact – the boys are setting up camp inside an abandoned loft/warehouse that looks a lot like the place they first tried to take out Meg back in Season 1’s Shadow. Incidentally, that was in Chicago, too….

Back with Kevin, he gets a call and it’s his girlfriend (I’m assuming, since he mentioned having one later in the episode) checking on him. He tells her that Princeton just decreased their acceptance number for 2013 and that he’s trying to get a perfect math score on his SATs. Can you say over-achiever? Only one problem…his admissions essay. He’s got nothing to write about. (Yet.)

His girlfriend tells him that one day college isn’t going to matter anymore and he’s basically like, you’re out of your mind.

Back in Chi-town, the boys are opening the case and set the red clay thingie (which actually looks gray now) on a workbench.

Dean: Lot of fuss over a caveman Lego.

Heh.

The boys put glasses on – safety first, dontcha know – and get out a mallet. With the first hit, they hear a whoosh sound like a jet flying over. They look up and around, jaws tight, faces tense.

Back in MI, Kevin’s pacing his room, drinking something – probably Red Bull, though when I was in high school and prepping for SATs, it was Jolt Cola…anyone remember that? – and trying to think up a topic for his essay. In Chicago, the boys start breaking pieces of the clay and a storm suddenly crashes outside. Lightning, thunder, the works.

He keeps pounding at the brick. The storm gets worse and it’s raging at Kevin’s house. Wicked clouds roll and boil and just as a piece of an onyx tablet becomes visible in Chicago, Kevin is struck by lightning – inside his bedroom. That’ll teach him to procrastinate on his essay.

Kevin’s lying on the floor of his bedroom, surrounded by broken glass. His eyes get all glowy and we see him see a bunch of symbols – could be Enochian, could be hieroglyphics. It totally reminded me of Sam Witwickie from Transformers when the All Spark connected to his brain and he was suddenly seeing Autobot writing all over the place. Oh, hush. I think we established my status as a card-carrying geek many Rambles ago. *grins*

ANYway, at the mental hospital, Cas is lying asleep – or unconscious – in his bed. Meg in her nurse persona is sitting next to him, feet up on the bed, reading a gossip magazine, and listening to her iPod. Next thing we know, Cas is sitting up, staring at Meg. It’s…a little creepy, to be honest.

Elsewhere at a GeoThrive (or some such name) construction site, Edgar – the Levi that was, sadly, not smushed by the falling car at the beginning of the season – is going over some building plans with another Levi Henchman when he gets a call from Dick Roman.

Edgar: Strange, isn’t it? That someone would choose to be named ‘Dick’?

Gaelicspirit is a storyteller. She is a recent addition to Whedonverse Network, but has been writing and posting recap/reviews of Supernatural on LiveJournal since 2007. She works as a freelance writer and consultant in the real world, and is ever-connected to the six-degrees of Joss Whedon.

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Gaelicspirit

Gaelicspirit is a storyteller. She is a recent addition to Whedonverse Network, but has been writing and posting recap/reviews of Supernatural on LiveJournal since 2007. She works as a freelance writer and consultant in the real world, and is ever-connected to the six-degrees of Joss Whedon.